5 comments about French in 10 Minutes a Day® (10 Minutes a Day Series).

1. These CDs are a very useful adjunct to the "French in 10 Minutes A Day" workbook. They are not a substitute, though, so be forewarned that you will need the book as well. The description of this product implies that the book is included, but it is not. Still, this is a great value and has been very fun and informative to use so far. I look forward to continuing with the program.
   
   Having been through the whole program now, I would have to add that, whereas this system provides a way of building vocabulary, it really is not designed to teach one how to speak the language. Vocabulary is emphasized to the point of essentially excluding sentence structure and grammar. Not a bad thing for the casual traveler, but if you are looking for a program that will actually help you learn to speak the language, you should probably look elsewhere. I have just ordered the French version of the Rosetta Stone program, and am hoping it will give me a more solid grounding in speaking French.



2. I bought these right after returning from Paris knowing I was going back the following year. I didn't know one word of French before these CD's and when I returned to Paris I felt quite competent getting around. I wasn't fluent by any means, but these CD's focus on what you need to know as a traveler i.e. asking basic questions, making reservations, going to the post office, airport terms, ordering food, menu item names, names of shops and conjugation of common verbs. I learned a tremendous amount just by listening to the CD's. The use of different people on the CD's introduces various accents and helps reinforce pronunciation. The workbook lessons are a nice beginner level and follow the CD's and are good to reinforce the spellings and vocabulary. There is a glossary in the back which is also helpful. I highly recommend this set to anyone wanting a good first step to learning French or just wanting to be able to get around France on vacation. It made a huge difference in my confidence from the first year, not knowing a word to being able to walk into a place asking for a table, ordering my meal and paying completely in French.



3. I doubt that you can learn a language in just ten minutes a day but this one at least gives you confidence to at least try to speak some french as a traveller and people always respond well to the fact that you have made an effort.
   One of the most attractive features of this book is the simple system of pronuncation. Next is the logical way it sets about teaching you ie., the order of gettin to the heart of the matter. Some of the suggested ways of learning vocabulary can be expanded onWell worth the cost.



4. Although I believe the sequence of the training is good, I would have liked the CD to strictly follow the book. The tape also uses several French speakers and they all pronounce the words very differently, which to a beginner like me, is very confusing. The intent was good as they wanted folks to hear people with French accents from all over the world; however, to someone hearing and learning the language for the first time, I personally found this to be frustrating. For my level of expertise (none), I needed consistency in pronunciation and pronunciation I could understand so I could repeat. Folks who already are familiar with the language, may find this CD useful.



5. All I want is to learn to communicate the essential needs of a tourist when I travel to France. This book includes sticky labels to label all sorts of items in your home, flash cards, and other tools that help to learn basic French with less effort. You will need other materials if you want to learn this language more fluently and a CD to help with pronounciation. Regardless, this book can be a helpful tool.

No comments about Pudlo France 2008-2009: A Hotel and Restaurant Guide (Pudlo France).

No comments about Michelin France (Michelin Map).

1 comments about Merde Happens.

1. Clarke's version of America is every bit as funny as his version of France. Paul West (lead character)drives across the US in an attempt to win a contest that will save his business back in Paris. Aside from the inevitable culture clashes, what makes this book so enjoyable is his relationships with his friends, who are a ragged yet good hearted bunch who end up looking out for one another as Paul West gets himself into one weird (and occasionally life-threatening) situation after another.I have read the previous 2 books based on the Paul West character, and I found this to be every bit as engaging, although I did not care for the end, and a few plots were too far fetched to suspend belief. But as with the other 2, I found myself laughing aloud several times.

5 comments about Let's Eat Out!: Your Passport to Living Gluten And Allergy Free (Let's Eat Out!) (Let's Eat Out!) (Let's Eat Out!) (Let's Eat Out!).

1. Basically, it says be suspicious of EVERYTHING. As a Celiac, I am already. This book did not help me and I was disappointed but I can see how it might help someone newly diagnosed. Being vigilant is the key.



2. "Let's Eat Out!" covers a very difficult topic, restaurant dining for people with food allergies and intolerances. For adults who should avoid top allergens due to mild to moderate food allergies and intolerances, this can be a very useful book. I have already referenced it a few times for some restaurant inspiration, outside of my usual Asian selections.
   
   The book itself is stylishly laid out with color-coded chapters, strategically placed photographs, useful charts, and sample menus. It addresses ten of the most common food allergens: dairy, eggs, wheat, gluten (an intolerance), soy, peanuts, tree nuts, corn, fish, and shellfish.
   
   It should be noted, that this book was written with celiac disease, multiple food "sensitivities", and gluten intolerance in mind. It may not be very appropriate for those who have life-threatening food allergies or severe intolerances. This is not to blame the authors. The various styles of food preparation combined with a high risk of cross-contamination in food service kitchens, make this a complicated area to address. Though, as one food allergy mom pointed out to me, the "Allergy-Free" title is a bit deceiving in this respect.
   
   Also, for those who do have true food allergies, this book should not be used as a dining bible, but more as a suggestion based resource for further research and diligence. As someone who lives with a milk protein allergy, I unfortunately noted many errors with respect to the foods listed as "not containing the allergen." Guacamole (often made with sour cream), margarine (frequently contains lactose and/or milk protein), and sausages (many brands contain cheese) were just a few that caused me to raise the red flag. Your own questions and food label reading would still be required when utilizing this book.
   
   Luckily, the authors do relay what questions to ask, and in many different languages. Kim Koeller has traveled extensively while living with multiple food allergies. This is well evidenced by the resources provided, including a multi-lingual phrase section and what seems to be a very useful airline guide. For those most interested in travel, the authors of "Let's Eat Out!" have also produced a "Multi-Lingual Phrase Passport" for food allergies that is pocket-sized. I thought this was a very handy little guide!



3. Eating when you're away from your own home is always a challenge when you are on a special diet.
   
   In "Let's Eat Out!" Koeller and La France have put together an impressive amount of information to make life easier for travelers and people who just want to eat out with family and friends.
   
   I found the book a bit difficult at first because there is just so much content to sort out. It's definitely not a book to digest in one sitting!
   
   I soon realized it really is a combination of broad reference guide and quick reference "cheat sheets." Once that became clear, it was much easier to scan and use the table of contents and index to find specific information. You can choose to just use the quick guides or go to the more detailed explanations.
   
   All in all, the authors cover a very broad topic in an orderly fashion that makes it easy to locate information for a variety of situations. They use 7 common cuisine types, from American Steak and Seafood to Thai, to analyze the issues a diner can expect to face. They offer comments on the ingredients, the way food is prepared and on likely sources of hidden cross contamination.
   
   After you read a couple of these, you begin to see the patterns and it would not be so difficult to apply the same process to another type of food. As they point out, it's all about educating yourself and learning what questions to ask.
   
   Poring through their food/menu analysis, I discovered to my dismay that the item I had been selecting from a fast food restaurant most likely contains hidden gluten that I would not have thought to question. I did wonder why I didn't feel good every time I ate there!
   
   Not only does the book cover information about individual foods, styles of cuisine, and 10 common food allergens, it also provides specific information about travel including contact information for individual airlines and the special diets they provide, contact information for associations and organizations in many parts of the world and even some translation phrases.
   
   I'd recommend "Let's Eat Out!" as a valuable reference book. It's especially useful for those who frequently eat out or travel and even better, those who'd like to eat out more but have hesitated to take the risk. It could open up a whole new world.
   
   The authors deserve the recognition that their book received as a Benjamin Franklin award finalist for 2006 in the Health (Wellness/Nutrition) category.



4. This is a great resource to have for travelling. I love the tabbed setup that makes it easy to get to the section I need. Obviously a lot of thought was put in to making the book (with an amazing amount of info.) as easy to use as possible.
   
   It is obvious that a great deal of thought and experimentation has been put forth in the making of this valuable resource!
   
   After being gf (and other things free) for 5 years, I appreciate the resource as it will make it far more possible for me to visit Italy (and other countries in my future) maintaining my health as much as possible along the way! Well done!
   
   I have dining cards and they work quite well, but the next time I travel, I will be packing this book to take as well, without a doubt!
   
   KimS



5. I bought this book thinking it would be of great help to me. I found it to be absolutely useless. There are so many other valuable tools to use and informative books out there that I can only say - use your common sense - you know what you can and can't have & all you have to do is ask the server to check in the kitchen to make sure that thee either isn't, or won't be, any gluten ingredients used. I live very near NYC and I can name so many gluten free restaurants that weren't included that it's ridiculous. Don't waste your money.

5 comments about French or Foe?: Getting the Most Out of Visiting, Living and Working in France.

1. The single most indispensable book for anyone planning on living in France for longer than five months.
   
   More than a mere study of facts and procedures, "French or Foe" explores the worldview of the French that make all that they do comprehensible. Without reading this work, France is incomprehensible, and you will be confined to a social and hermeneutic ghetto.
   
   Highly recommended.



2. As the relatively new kids on the geopolitical block, we Americans often misunderstand how the rest of the world operates, none more so than our amis ancien the French. I came across this book in a Genevan bookstore shortly after moving there and it has helped me immeasurably over the years. My Parisian friends have enjoyed and confirmed the truth and wisdom contained in its pages.
   
   Who knew that approaching the French in a typically American way with a big smile and focus on the task at hand is considered disingenuous and rude? How amazingly different is the response I consistently get with a deadpan expression, proper greeting and speaking French first before getting down to business!
   
   A whole host of helpful tips, from playing devil's advocate during an evening together, politically incorrect flirtation, and the customer not always being right, are covered here in a humorous and easy-to-remember fashion. Understanding builds the bridge to friendship. After all, the French have been our friends since before we became a sovereign country, even if it, as President Sarkozy has said, "friendship means accepting that friends can have different opinions."



3. Polly Platt's book is a mixture of valuable insight and eye-rolling pompousness. To give her due credit, the first chapter is full of useful information and essentially contains all that you will need to know from this book. Soon thereafter the book descends into a name-dropping snobbery and gives all the tips you'd need to know if you were visiting with the upper 3% of French society. Much of what Ms. Platt reveals about French culture seems to be outdated and of little relevance to the middle and lower-class French people that a visitor will no doubt actually be coming into contact with. Indeed, the author leaves the reader feeling that they would not be allowed at Ms. Platt's own dinner table.
   
   When I visited Paris I certainly found some of her information useful, such as her recommendation to use "The Ten Magic Words" (again, in the first chapter), and whether many of the French we came across were smiling and accommodating for this reason, I cannot say. Read this book and you will likely make fewer cultural mistakes in France than you would have if you hadn't, but read it knowing it is not the last word on French culture, and does not apply to most of the French population.



4. On my first visit to France, I loved the French and France. Now that I am living here and experiencing full throttle culture shock, it's a little different.
   
   Whilst trying to understand my cultureshock, it suddenly dawned on me that I hadn't read Platt's book on my first visit..but I did before I arrived here to live permanently.
   
   I realised that while it's 'just a book' she actually did instill some kind of a fear and paranoia within me that I was offending people left right and center when it wasn't the case at all. Her book is totally at odd's with my experiences of people and it has actually created a lot of misunderstandings because her words have echoed in my mind...but in 2008 PP is totally out of touch with reality in France..
   Her book is beyond outdated and she writes for a highly uppercrust society with money. Clearly not the folks I hang out with.
   
   She has a new book out which looks even more stereotypical and cliche ridden than the other two, this time about relationships French style. According to an article about the book she claims French women allow their husbands to have affairs and spend their pay packets on sexy lingerie.
   
   Does PP really live in France? I'm not sure how it's possible..



5. Overall I agree with many of the other reviews here in that the information presented by Ms. Platt is helpful for someone moving to France. Don't expect a well written or well edited book though. Some sentence structure simply doesn't make sense, which is odd because Ms. Platt's native language is english.

5 comments about Words in a French Life: Lessons in Love and Language from the South of France.

1. A WONDERFUL FRESH BOOK THAT ADDS DIMENSION TO WORDS IN FRENCH TO MAKE THEM MORE MEMORABLE FOR A STUDENT. LIGHT AND PERSONAL AND A GREAT AID TO MAKE A LANGUAGE YOUR FRIEND. WELL DONE!



2. The value of this charming and instructive book by a natural writer and observer of the (French) social scene is that it makes picking up new vocabulary easy because you remember the lovely stories in which they were packaged.
   
   This is part soap opera, part cultural exchange, part charming honesty, part ingenuousness, and, overall, a very natural and entertaining way to enhance one's French vocabulary at the same time one gains an understanding of the culture that comes along with that language.
   
   It is delightful to be a fly on the wall during the culture shock of a French major from the American Southwest finding love and community in La France.
   
   I have been a reader of her blog for a while and benefited from that, but it is a different, and better, experience to read some of her best columns in book form, which, by the way, suggests in its design the south of France, a Mediterranean touch stylewise. It's a handsome dustcover.
   
   This unique book will have you learning French while chuckling at her account of getting 'hung up' on entering the church for her wedding. Such refreshing candor! You'll love this book.
   
   Addenda:
   
   Kristin's web columns are so good I wondered how I could access as many as possible of her previous work. Voila! As a Google mail holder, I found could go to one of their services called Google Reader which allows one to add RSS (really simple syndication) feeds to that page and access them in a convenient fashion (summary or listing). When I added the URL for her webpage, Google went out, got the RSS and placed it on a list to the left of the page. I found the LIST format most useful for scrolling backwards in time more than a year to see all her French Words on which I could click to get the original page with all her vocabulary suggestions and her delightful stories.
   
   Her genius is that she places new French vocablulary gently amongst a story, otherwise in English, that is so interesting that one wants to read it to the end, and then look over the associated words and phrases.
   
   In effect, one learns new French words from the context in which they are placed in the English language story. Enormously clever and effective. It resembles the way we learn vocabulary in our own language: from context.



3. I first found out about Kristin's writing from her "word a day" emails. It was a natural progression to get her book and it is thoroughly charming cover to cover. This is the book that I pick up in between my trips to France to remind myself of all the things I love about the country and its people.
   
   If you've never been to France, read it and you'll be on the next plane. If you've been to France, read it and you'll be returning again soon.
   
   I hope Kristin soon publishes another volume!



4. I enjoyed this book so much, I'm getting another copy for my daughter to take on vacation. It was interesting to learn not only about life in France but about Kristin as she adjusts to her life there. She observes herself as acutely and entertainingly as she does her new home. I found the book while browsing the travel section, I'd never heard of her blog before this - the reviewer below me is right, she's got a terrific blog with beautiful photos, but I think he's way off about the book. I found it worked both as a story read straight through, which gives a fascinating and satisfying total picture, or as vignettes read as separate chunks.



5. This book is a lot of fun. As you read about the life in France, you can't help but pick up a word or two of French with each chapter you read.

5 comments about A Year in the Merde.

1. Clarke's main character, Paul West, enters French society with an eye for detail but also a chip on his shoulder. The sort of silly good luck that befalls him makes the book an interesting exercise in wishful thinking that is a bit of a disconnect with the pull-no-punches reality with which French society is portrayed. The odd juxtaposition was, unfortunately, the most lasting impression I was left with afterward.



2. This is loads of fun, I'll grant you. I happen to love British wit, so what could beat an English author griping about his time among the frogs? The French do not come off well. Curiously, I had never seen this side of them. Clarke essentially captures a petty, almost tribal narrowness which I had never before associated with the French, but rings absolutely right. Especially when the French girlfriend calls things off over politics - this is so American radicals of the 60s, and it is totally believable as a French pose of self-importance. The nonsense over the tea shops is silly but very revealing, too. Anyway, the memoir is amusing if finally a bit tiresome. Actually, the entire premise of his stay seemed weird and somehow bogus. The graphic romance seems a little adolescent to me - maybe the author has something to prove. Although the French gals do come across as totally lacking in Anglo-American primness. His shock is fun, but so is his unabashed joy in finding such easy women. This is a real case of so close but so far. Highly recommended.



3. I love every one of Stephen Clarke's books. I have never laughed so hard reading. Looking forward to getting his newest. I wish these books would also go to the big screen. Hugh Grant?



4. A Year in the Merde by Stephen Clarke is an uproarious roman à clef following a year in the life of Clarke's alter ego, Paul West. Paul West is a Brit who has been transplanted to the City of Light to help a French businessman open English tea shops throughout Paris. Paul's struggles to understand and master all things French, including the French work ethic of his colleagues (which places more importance on vacation planning than on anything truly work related); the confusing manner in which the real estate market operates; and the most perplexing thing about France - French women, will have you laughing throughout the entire book.
   
   Besides being a humorous account of French assimilation, A Year in the Merde is also an insightful look at how the French view British and American citizens. Clarke is especially discerning when recounting the start of the American led Iraq war.
   
   As the inside flap of the book says, "This book is for everyone who can never quite decide whether they love - or love to hate - the French".



5. Not a page turner by any means, but laugh out loud funny! I really enjoyed this book, took my time reading it, and am rather sad it's over... :)

5 comments about A Year in the World: Journeys of A Passionate Traveller.

1. I looked forward to reading this book but found myself not knowing a lot of the foods or areas that the author spoke about and had to turn to "googling" about them many times, thus throwing my momentum of reading this book off.



2. There has been a lot of (unjustified, to my way of thinking) criticism of Ms. Mayes book here...
   
   Perhaps to balance the generally favorable reviews of her earlier books, which were indeed inspirational to (mostly) Americans who cannot conceive of the fact of starting another life 'out there', beyond the US imperial borders.
   
   I for one think that her most recent book deserves a better fate...as do all books that look beyond our borders. God knows, we have a lot to learn.
   
   I would wish her to continue to write and publish her semi-memoirs (more power to you, Ms. Mayes), so that we can read about her travel impressions...which is nothing more than what they are (everyone who reads travel books wishes they were there, and their impressions would be different).
   
   Her book is not meant to represent anything more than a single, literate person's reaction to what is encountered.
   
   If I wished that her impressions were more biased toward a historical account, or an 'anchored in early 21st century' mindset, so what? Places are what they are. Each place has its own history, its own time frame, its own this-ness, That's why we read (instead of or before going).
   
   Who among us would not like to live the life she describes?
   
   So what if she seems to be overly-critical of the cruise passengers on her 'free trip'? Paul Theroux did the same thing on his cruise described in the 'Pillars of Hercules'.
   
   I too have been cruises on which I wondered how did these folks even get on board unassisted, given their age and weight?...let alone show up every night for dancing, etc?
   
   The way for me is that they 'earned' their condition. Give these folks a break.
   
   It's a good thing and a positive thing and and a lfe thing...especially given the death culture the US is currently 'enjoying' as a result of the current administration's insistence on same.
   
   Just my own thoughts on what should be encouraged in this culture...
   
   There are a lot of things to complain about, but Frances Mayes is NOT one of them.



3. This book disappointed me because I expected to find the quality of writing in A Year in Tuscany. Instead, A Year in the World rambled along interminably. Where was the editor of this overwritten book? Too much erudite history and too many long attempts at poetic description make getting to the end a long slog. Also, I would have liked some description of husband Ed. Occasional, brief, stilted conversations between Frances and Ed revealed next to nothing about Ed's personality, background, thoughts or appearance. Finally, I can't help wondering how much Frances and Ed weigh? A great deal of the book is about food, and the many snacks and meals they enjoyed each day. A photo of the two would satisfy this reader's curiosity. I liked A Year in Tuscany, but A Year in the World is about six months too long.



4. I'm sorry, but this book was ultra boring. I couldn't muster up enough energy or interest to even finish it.
   
   I myself, suffer from wanderlust. My extensive travels have taken me to some of the same locales as Mayes, so I was looking forward to reading about them from her perspective.
   
   However, I'm a writer myself--and while I haven't published a book about my travels I do keep a popular travel blog and write editorials for my local papers upon my return. But, trust me I've written more interesting narratives on a postcard home to my family than Mayes manages to do in 20+ pages.
   
   My advice--skip the book, and opt for a nice program on the Travel Channel instead. I guarantee it will be more fascinating and informative and you get the pleasure of avoiding Mayes's pretentious ramblings.



5. I just finished this book and loved it, I don't really understand the bad reviews. One I read said she didn't think Mayes's heart was in it. Unbelieveable! It makes me wonder if she really read the book. Mayes' "heart", her heartfelt impressions of the places she visited, ran throughout the book. I strongly recommend this book if you love to read about travels and particularly if you like the way Mayes writes.

No comments about Michelin Red Guide 2008 Paris: Restaurants & Hotels (Michelin Red Guide: Paris).